Financial Education and the SDGs (SMBC Consumer Finance Co., Ltd., Hiroshima Customer Service Plaza)Hiroshima for Global Peace

Financial Education and the SDGs (SMBC Consumer Finance Co., Ltd., Hiroshima Customer Service Plaza)

Community-based initiatives

SMBC Consumer Finance Co., Ltd. is well known for its “Pi! Pa! Promise” commercials, but what kind of SDGs initiatives is the company undertaking?
This time we interviewed SMBC Group’s Hiroshima Customer Service Plaza. Customer Service Plazas are located all over Japan and are engaged in initiatives that are closely tied to their respective regions. By conducting seminars for financial education and providing household budget consultations tailored to people’s life plans, they work closely with customers to address their concerns.

Financial education and the SDGs

Target 4.4 of SDG Goal 4 “Quality Education for All,” aims to “substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” I believe that knowledge of money and the ability to make decisions are vital for these “decent jobs.”
There is a strong connection between a rewarding job and a stable livelihood for workers. In order to achieve a stable livelihood, it is important to be prepared for various situations such as parenting, illness, injury, and old age, and having the right knowledge about money is essential for such preparation. As such, we believe it is important for everyone to take the initiative in learning by taking advantage of the financial education opportunities offered by SMBC Consumer Finance.

Comments expressing the importance of money

Comments from those who attended the PROMISE Financial and Economic Education Seminar included, “I realized that financial troubles are not someone else’s problem, and it strengthened my resolve” (1st year university student) and “by creating a life event chart, I was able to address specific issues such as my children’s educational expenses, and I would like to use this as an opportunity to discuss the future with my family” (caregiver of elementary school student).
I felt that by attending seminars and listening in person to people with specialized expertise, I was able to learn new things about money and find the motivation to engage in new activities.
Many of you may be wondering, “What can each individual do to help with the SDGs?” I used to be one of them too. However, in the course of producing this report, I have come to believe that “learning,” an action that we take for granted, is also an individual effort that can greatly contribute to achieving the SDGs.